Money saver



March 27, 1962 s. TAlZ 3,027,013

MONEY SAVER Filed April 7, 1960 IN VENTOR. 5' ngy 75112 United StatesPatent ()fifice 3,027, Patented Mar. 27, 1962 t It My invention relatesto a money saver device, and more in particular to a device whichpermits paper currency to be displayed prominently but out of the reachof the customer until the money changing transaction has been completed.

Every operator of a retail store, in which paper money of standarddenominations is offered for cash payment of purchases in such a mannerthat change must be made, will have the experience from time to time ofhaving a customer insist that he presented a bill of larger denominationthan that for which change has been made. Rather than risk offending acustomer or incur the ill will of customers not participating in thetransaction, the storekeeper frequently makes change as requested by thecustomer unless he can demonstrate instantly that the customer is inerror. Furnishing change over and above that called for by the billpresented is particularly apt to appear necessary if the customer hasobviously made an innocent mistake. Because of the circumstancesattending this type of transaction, it is not uncommon to findprofessionals who 'will deliberately trick the storekeeper, and who haveso selected circumstances in the presentation of argument, that thestorekeeper is frequently helpless to do anything except make payment,even though he knows that he is being deliberately cheated.

To avoid loss, both of money and good will, because of the type ofoccurrence discussed, various expedients have been used. A common one,of course, is to place the bill offered for payment on the cash registeron a flat ledge immediately above the cash drawers. This practice haslimitations which those familiar with it recognize. A more elaborateprecaution employed is the use of special equipment which rings up thetotal amount of the sale, adds the cost of separate purchases, wheresuch were made, and indicates change due the customer when a button orbuttons are pressed indicating the total amount of money offered inpayment. This type of equipment is expensive, and while it ofiersconsiderable improvement, it is not fool-proof against the action of aprofessional who knows how to make use of the slightest slip on the partof clerical people involved.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of simpleinexpensive equipment which may be used to substantially eliminate thetype of problem discussed.

Another object is the provision of a device to which the bill offered inpayment is readily attached, so that it will be within sight but out ofreach of the customer until the transaction has been completed.

In the drawings I have shown simple embodiment of the invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the device of the present inventionattached to a surface such as the side of a cash register;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3' is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but indicating the manner in whichthe device may be permanently attached by screws if desired.

Referring now to the drawings, the device of my invention comprises arectangular base preferably formed of clear plastic such as Lucitehaving an up-turned flange 11 within which are secured permanent magnettype attaching devices 12 for securing the device to a vertical sidesurface 13 which may be the side of a cash register. A holding clip 14is secured to an uppermost top surface portion of the base 10 toreleasably hold a bill 15 offered in payment. While the device may beattached in any suitable position on the cash register, I have foundthat an angle of about 45 to the horizontal is very suitable,

. because it permits the bill 15 to be viewed constantly through theclear plastic but keeps the bill itself in such a position that it isnot easily grasped by a customer. A brace support 16 integral with thebase 10 is provided in such a position that it rests against a lowerportion of the surface 13. This brace support as shown in FIG. 3, ispreferably bodily positioned with respect to the base 10 in such a waythat it will lie in a vertical plane and in contact with the surface 13so as to offer the greatest supporting action.

The attaching devices 12 may have any suitable shape 2 but preferablythey comprise a pair of permanent magnets 17 i-mbedded in a metal orplastic base which is plastic welded into a recessed portion of theflange 11, or otherwise secured in position, so that the permanentmagnets for all practical purposes become a part of the flange 11. Toprovide means for more firmly attaching the device to a selectedsurface, I provide screw hples 18 running entirely through the attachingdevices 12 and through the contiguous portion of the flange 11 (FIG. 3)so that if desired a screw 19 may be threaded into a specially bored andtapped hole in the plate comprising the surface 13 (FIG. 4).

While many types of fastening means may be employed, I prefer the formshown which is suitable because it permi-ts temporary attachment untilthe utility of the device and its preferred location has beendemonstrated, after which it may be permanently attached. It should benoted that the temporary attachment may be deleted in which only theattaching screws would be used. While a customer can bodily remove themoney saver if only the permanent magnet attachment is used, generallyspeaking such an action on his part would be tantamount to admissionthat he was in the wrong and his action undoubtedly would be interpretedas criminal.

I have described a specific form of my invention so those skilled in theart may understand its functions and advantages but the scope of theinvention is defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A money saver for the purpose described comprising a base with anupper face and in the form of a rectangle slightly larger than papercurrency, a flange along one side edge only of said base, a clip near atop portion of the face for engaging over a top edge of the papercurrency, said clip comprising a single piece resilient member havingsuch slight pressure against the said face that paper currency may beslid thereunder and means associated with said flange for releasablyattaching said device to a vertical surface as of a cash register.

2. A money saver for the purppse described comprising a base with anupper face and in the form of a rectangle slightly larger than papercurrency, a flange along one side edge only of said base, a clip near atop portion of the face for engaging over a top edge of the papercurrency, said clip comprising a single piece resilient member havingsuch slight pressure against the said face that paper currency may beslid thereunder, means associated with said flange for releasablyattaching said device to a vertical surface as of a cash register, andbracing means projecting downwardly from the base to engage said surfacebelow said attaching means.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprisespermanent magnets.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprisespermanent magnets, a hole being provided through each permanent magnetand continuing through the said flange for receipt of fastening screwsengaging a vertical member-comprising said surface.

5. A money saver for the purpose described comprising a substantiallyrectangular base somewhat larger than paper currency, said base beingformed of transparent material, a flange along one side edge only of thebase, a money securing clip near a top edge of the base so that papercurrency held by said clip may be viewed from above and below the base,and permanent magnet means carried by said flange for attachment to avertical ferromagnetic surface.

6. A money saver for the purpose described comprising a substantiallyrectangular base somewhat larger than paper currency, said base beingformed of transparent material, a flange along one side edge only of thebase, a money securing clip near a top edge of the base so that papercurrency held by said clip may be viewed from above and below the base,and permanent magnet means carried by said flange for attachment to avertical ferromagnetic surface, attaching holes for screws beingprovided through the base flange for firm substantially permanentattachment of the device.

7. A money saver for the purpose described comprising a flat plate oftransparent material, of a size and shape to support unfolded papermoney, a clip for supporting paper money on a top surface of the saidflat plate, and means including a flange along one side edge only ofsaid base for securing said flat plate to a vertical surface so that thesaid money can be seen from both sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,668,429 Simon May 1, 1928 2,438,505 Hunt Mar. 30, 1948 2,474,942Hawkins July 5, 1949 2,487,301 Borah Nov. 8, 1949 2,649,970 Broz Aug.25, 1953

